Google indexed a directory

OK, I had an error on a page (since fixed) and instead of linking to my articles.html page it linked to the articles directory.

Google appears to have followed and indexed that error and now my articles directory shows up on Google.

I fixed the error when I first found it; yet, Googlebot still visited it last night. Just doublechecked the files the bot visited on that cycle and all were correctly coded.

Is this something that will go away on its own, or should I ask Google to remove it? Is it better not to draw attention to it with Google and just leave it? Any thoughts?

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Does the page sends a 404 header?

If it does, then propably it would be get out of the index soon, but anyway this should not bother you.

If you follow the link on Google, it brings up the directory and shows the files. Click on any of the files and they are shown correctly as they would appear had they been accessed from the website.

I mainly worry that it could somehow lead to a security problem.

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That's a problem.

You should tell your hosting company to deactivate directory browsing in the web server, or use an .htaccess file not found page

[404error.php]

That's very easy to do.

Create a file called .htaccess and open it with a text editor.

Code:

ErrorDocument 404 /404error.php

Then you have to create the page 404error.php and put there your error message.

I'm not sure I understand. If the page brings up the list how does it cause a 404 file not found error? Isn't it bringing up exactly what was asked for?

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No. When the directory browsing is on, the server shows the directory listing, instead of the index file(or the error 404 file).

As an alternative you can add a index.php file in every folder, so it won't be possible to browse the directories of your server.

Index.php? What is that? Would that prove cleaner?

I was thinking of the 404 error page thing, and making it direct to the actual articles page but if someone got a 404 for something else then that might not work so well.

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The best solution is to create an html page that will have a little message like "The page you requested does not exist" and some navigation links from your site.

Then do the .htaccess thing.

I will try to rephrase what Thanos said.

Open a text editor (eg. Notepad)

Write this line :

Code:

ErrorDocument 404 /404error.php

Then save this file with the name .htaccess on your root folder of your site.

Then open again the text editor and write the html that you want to displayed when someone is visiting a non existed page.

Save this file with name 404error.php again in the root folder of your site.

You are done

I think I am getting this better.

I have cPanel and found where I can change the browsing.

It says:

The index manager will allow you to turn indexes on or off for a directory. If indexes are off, people will not be able to see what files are in a directory that lacks an index file.


Does that mean if I turn it off people will still be able to view the files normally, or will it hide them completely? The index file they mention, is that the index.php?

I have a small understanding of the .htaccess file and already have one. Don't quite understand how all the code works; but what I have seems to be doing what it is supposed to be doing.

Sorry, for the newbie questions, this is my first website where I am responsible for the security too.

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Does that mean if I turn it off people will still be able to view the files normally, or will it hide them completely?

People will still be able to see the files that exist. They just wont be able to browse the directory.

The index file they mention, is that the index.php?

I have never worked with cPanel, but I think that it is not. They propably mean the directory index(the list of files in the directory).

Sorry, for the newbie questions, this is my first website where I am responsible for the security too.

It's ok. I am glad to help (when possible) because I learned everything by my own, and I know how difficult is this man

OK, changed the browsing thing in cPanel, now the visitor sees my error page and can still see the stuff they are supposed to.

Have I told you how much I enjoy your forum? Thanks for the help.

I have a fancy education, but Internet was not in existance then (yep, dating myself a bit) so what I know is self taught and from folks like you.

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Have I told you how much I enjoy your forum? Thanks for the help.

I am glad you do

About your issue you should do what I mentioned before (the .htaccess thing)

If you have any trouble, let me know

Ahh, now if Google would just drop that entry.

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